All reenactors interested in becoming members of the 984 Grenadiere Regiment are required to have and obtain the following items; these are the minimum requirements in terms of uniforms and equipment for members of the 984 GR. Most of the listed items are easily available while some of the others may not be. We have a number of recommended suppliers, including Lost Battalions (most authentic and very highly recommended!), At The Front, Hessen Antiques and Reenactors Stuff. There are many suppliers and vendors that produce and sell high quality products and items, there are also some that we recommend to avoid. Before making any purchases, it is wise for a new recruit to first review this guideline, second, contact his unit sponsor (or another unit member) and third, contact the authenticity officer(s). Please ask if you have any questions at all, as there are some unscrupulous individuals that will sell unknowing buyers incorrect and unauthentic items. Do not concern yourself about having non-matching uniform components as we portray a late-war impression. The mixing of web gear (tropical) and leather gear (continental) is also acceptable and authentic. The aim of the 984 GR is to portray the most authentic impressions of the German Heer soldier from late 1943 up until the end of the war. We take great pride in our impressions and the authenticity that we try and achieve and we will assist new recruits in any way to make sure that they attain these same goals. A new recruit is expected to fulfill the minimum uniform requirements within one year of joining the unit, and membership is conditional on obtaining all required minimum uniform and equipment parts. To get a good idea of what the uniform and equipment expectations are, of a member of the 984 Grenadiere Regiment, please see the Der Deutsche Soldat page.
Uniforms - Dienstanzug
Tunic (Feldblusen): Wool Feldgrau Feldbluse, four pocket M36 (with bottle green collars, only acceptable for wear by “veteran” Landwehr), M40 or M43 four pocket, M44 two pocket short jacket, HBT reed green M40 or 43 four pocket tunic with correct Heer insignia. No converted tunics of any kind. East German/DDR are not acceptable.
Trousers (Hosen, Keilhosen): M37, M40, M43 in stone gray or feldgrau, or reed green HBT or drill material. No Swiss, Swedish, or East German wool trousers allowed.
Shirt (Hemd): Service shirt with or without collar available in various shades and colors ranging from an off white, to gray and gray-green.
Cap (Mütze): Field cap (Feldmütze) or side cap (schiffschen) in “feldgrau” wool or M43 (Einheitsfeldmütze) visored cap, both one and two button varieties, in “feldgrau” wool, with proper insignia.
Field Equipment
Suspenders (Hosenträger): Reputable reproduction or original suspenders with rope/leather ends accepted. Some Post war issue suspenders are acceptable. Check with Authenticity Officer.
Footwear (Fußbekleidung) Correct low boots (Stiefel) or reproduction jack boots (Marschestiefel). Under no circumstances are East German jackboots to be worn. West German jack boots if properly converted may be acceptable, check with Authenticity Officer. Winter boots require proper conversion.
Gaiters (Gamaschen): Original or reproduction gamaschen in feldgrau only. West German gaiters are not allowed.
Helmet (Stahlhelm): Original or quality reproduction M35, M40 (Post-war BGS acceptable if properly converted) or M42 helmet with correct liner and suspension pins. Spanish helmets are not allowed. Painted in proper Dunkelgrün, or Apple Green. Properly camouflaged helmets are also acceptable
Identification Disc (Erkennungsmarken): Reproduction erkennungsmarken with blood type, identification number and Unit.
Soldbuch: Reproduction soldbuch with military photograph and personal information recorded inside.
Y-Straps (Koppelträggestell): Leather (black or brown) or tropical webbing reproduction y-straps with correct WWII style hardware. Austrian y-straps or spring-loaded hardware are not acceptable.
Belt (Koppel): Black leather belt with rough side out and correct WWII style keeper.
Buckle (Koppelschloß): Heer belt buckle.
Ammunition Pouches (Patronnentaschen): Pair of triple ammunition pouches for K98 Mauser in black or brown leather.
Bayonet (Seitengewehr): WWII German K98k bayonet with wood or bakelite handle and frog (seitengewehrträger) in brown, black leather or tropical tan webbing.
Breadbag (Brotbeutel): Original or identical post-war breadbag in gray/green canvas with correct three-hole buttons are acceptable.
Canteen (Feldflasche): Original German or identical post-war aluminum or wood impregnated canteen with proper steel or bakelite cup and wool gray cover.
Mess kit (Kochgeschirr): Original WWII mess kit and identical post-war mess kits are acceptable. Consult with authenticity officer before purchasing.
Eating utensils (Essbesteck): Original style eating utensils and East German officer style utensils are acceptable.
Gasmask Canister (Gasmaskentragebuchse): Original style large canister, post-war variations must have spring clasp and correct strap. Spanish gas cans are not acceptable. Correct rubber or canvas gas mask, the carrying of gasmask is optional.
Entrenching tool (Klappspaten): Original or identical Swiss e-tool with rounded handle and reproduction klappspatenträger (carrier). Carriers are to be the correct reproduction in leather or "presstoff" resin-impregnated cardboard/artificial leather. East German shovels are not acceptable.
Kar 98k - (Karabiner98): German K98k WWII rifle, with cleaning rod, and turned down bolt. No Swedish, Turkish or Persian contract Mausers allowed. Certain Chinese contract Mausers are identical to WWII German, and must be of same configuration and stock; reworks of wartime weapons from various countries are also acceptable. All new members will start out with a K98k.
Optional Items
Camouflage Smock – (Heerestarnjacke) Reproduction Camouflage smock in correct Splinter A (Wehrmacht) or 1943 Marsh pattern camouflage and material. 1944 Marsh pattern is not acceptable.
Helmet Cover: (Tarnhelmüberzug): Correct material camouflage net or Heer type helmet cover with drawstring are acceptable, in either Splinter A or 1943 Marsh pattern. 1944 Marsh pattern is not acceptable. Burlap sack, tan cloth or plain white bedding material (for Winter events) may be acceptable, using breadbag strap or strap made from tire tube. Approval by authenticity officer is required.
Cap (Mütze): M43 (Einheitsfeldmütze) – visored cap, with or without buttons, in Splinter A or 1943 Marsh pattern. With or without insignia.
Zeltbahn - original or reproduction zeltbahn in splinter (preferred) or gray/green material.
Ammunition Pouches (Patronnentaschen): Correct ammunition pouches for alternative weapons. MG pouch, G43 magazine pouches, MP40 and StG44 pouches in leather or webbing.
Luftwaffen Truppen (Post October 1944 events only)
Tunic (Feldblusen): Wool Fliegerbluse, Wool or HBT M40 or M43 tunic with correct Luftwaffe insignia. No converted tunics of any kind.
Trousers (Hosen): Same as above M37 or M43 in blue gray or feldgrau. Swedish, Swiss or East German/DDR wool trousers are not allowed.
Shirt (Hemd): Service shirt with or without collar, same as Heer, or Luftwaffe light blue.
Cap (Mütze): Field cap (Feldmütze) or side cap, (Schiffschen) or M43 (Einheitsfeldmütze) visored cap, both one and two button varieties, in blue gray wool, with proper insignia.
Ground Combat Jacket (Tarnjacke) - Reproduction Ground Combat Jacket in correct Splinter B (Luftwaffe) or 1943 Marsh pattern camouflage and material. 1944 Marsh pattern is not acceptable.
Helmet (Stahlhelm): Original or quality reproduction M35, M40 (Post-war BGS acceptable if properly converted) or M42 helmet with correct liner and suspension pins. Spanish helmets are not allowed. Painted in proper dark Luftwaffe blue - bluegray. Properly camouflaged helmets are also acceptable
Gaiters (Gamaschen): Original or reproduction gamaschen in blue or gray/green only. No West German gaiters allowed.
Breadbag (Brotbeutel): Original or identical post-war breadbag in blue or gray/green canvas with correct three-hole buttons are acceptable
Tropical Uniforms – Troppenanzug
Tunic (Feldblusen): Cotton drill or HBT olive or khaki Feldbluse, M40 or M43 four pocket with correct Tropical Heer insignia. No converted tunics of any kind.
Trousers (Hosen, Keilhosen): Same as above M37, M40, M43 in olive or khaki drill or HBT.
Shirt (Hemd): Service shirt with or without collar available in various shades and colors ranging from an olive or khaki to an off white, to gray and gray-green.
Cap (Mütze): Field cap (Feldmütze) or side cap (schiffschen) in “feldgrau” wool or in olive or khaki drill or HBT material or M41 (Einheitsfeldmütze) visored cap, in khaki or olive drill or HBT material, with proper insignia.
Helmet (Stahlhelm): Original or quality reproduction M35, M40 (Post-war BGS acceptable if properly converted) or M42 helmet with correct liner and suspension pins. Spanish helmets are not allowed. Painted in proper Dunkelgrün, or Apple Green, or properly camouflaged (tropical colors) helmets are also acceptable.
